The main programs in MRTC is training. There is both formal and non formal training for the farmers.

a) Trainings (training community)
Formal training – This takes 1 year as a certificate course on:

•  Range Management and
•  Animal Husbandry. It is demand driven.
•  On farm trainings to farmers (extension)
• Seminars & field days occasionally when need arises.
• Computer training – 7 packages


b) Food Security
Women programmes
- Cultivation/farming
- Water project and sanitation
Approach (using group)

- Meto sub-centre (do same projects)
Cultivation/farming

- Dryland farming
Demonstration plots trials together with KARI (rain dependant)
Drip irrigation (drum and bucket) demonstration plots
Apiary (bee keeping)
Agro forestry (tree nursery)
Energy saving jikos

c) Tannery:
Processing raw hides and skins
Hides – cattle and buffalo
Skin – sheep, goats, snakes, etc

Training students on leather tanning the goes to making of products like belts, shoes by beading then selling articles. The final products are sold within and without the country.

d) Production and Training Unit

Initially they were running polytechnics where student complete 2 years training then put them in the PTU for further practical training so that later they can work on their own.

e) Hay making unit

Hay making is a new project for MRTC; they have started making Hay for sale both at the centre and people homes using their equipments. They have a tractor, rake, mower, baler. Grass is mowed at flowering stage, then raking, then baling.

Farmers pay 65/= per bale but this will depend on the distance. Can bale ourselves and sell depending on demand. To do manual hay they have a manual baler (approtech baler), a manual mower and a hay box.

f) Silage making

When wet this includes; this is a kind of food preservation for cattle to use during the dry season. Napier Grass, ordinary grass and Lucien is cut and put in a prepared pit (silo) covered with a sheet of polythene paper bag on the side and at the top but sheet of paper.

They have a ranch of 2000 acres with Beef cattle - 300 to 350, Dorpen sheep – 300 t0 350

Ranch serves as a demonstration farm. Students from the university access it.
- Farmers access breeding stock
- All information on cattle and sheep can be accessed
- Stock is sold at subsidized prices.
- Prices are set by ranch sub-committee
Bulls – 32,000/= (2 years and above, from 380-450 kgs) Breeding stock
- for slaughter 65/= per kg (LW)
Rams - 12,000/= (within the district)
- 16,000/= (outside the district)

The farm also hosts students pursuing Masters and PhD degrees.

Every year when the ranch makes a surplus, 25% of proceeds go to training programmes and 75% is ploughed back to the ranch. An AI technician mans the ranch.

g) Semi zero-grazing unit

Allow them to graze out and do a bit of supplementation. Started as a result of changes in land tenure introduced to dairy animals. Have multiplied up to 20

Sub-centres